EF2 tornado in Choctaw County, Oklahoma

This tornado developed in Lamar County, Texas, and produced EF-4 damage northwest of Paris, and then crossed the Red River into Choctaw County. Extensive tree damage occurred just north of the Red River with numerous hardwood trees snapped from E2150 Road to E2140 Road. The tornado moved northeast, becoming about a mile wide several miles south of Sawyer, and continued to produce a very wide damage swath until a couple miles north of Highway 70. Throughout the path, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, numerous power poles were snapped, numerous outbuildings were destroyed, and 38 homes were damaged, at least sixteen of which were severely damaged. The tornado dissipated between the N 4340 Road and N 4360 Road, and south of the E1980 Road. Based on the damage in Choctaw County, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 110 to 120 mph.

Severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening of the 4th. The atmosphere became moderately unstable ahead of a cold front approaching from the north and a dry line approaching from the west. Deep layer and low level wind shear increased during the afternoon and evening across the area, with the approach of a strong upper level disturbance, and became very strong by early evening. The combination of moderately strong instability and strong to very strong wind shear resulted in some supercell thunderstorm structures, as well as a severe squall line that moved through the region. Multiple tornadoes occurred across eastern Oklahoma from these storms. Damaging wind and large hail up to quarter size also occurred. Heavy rainfall resulted in localized flash flooding.